Cleaning cases after neck turning.

[nmkid]

Last week I started working on some Lapua 6.5-284 cases for my 6-284. After all work was done, (resizing, trimming, annealing, neck turning and tumbler) I used a Q-tip to remove oil and stuff from the inside neck. During the cleaning the Q-tip slipped on me and went slightly farther into the case. I pulled out an almost black Q-tip!! There was even some tumbler media on it! Long story short, after some inspecting. The crud was coming from the inside of the shoulder. I started kind of twisting the Q-tip so that it would touch the inside of the cases, (shoulder area) and was amazed at the gunk I was removing from what I thought was a "clean" case. This is but a very small amount of the Q-tips I used.

 

[spclark]

Yep, even with brand spankin' new cases, when you run necks onto a mandrel with a lube you're going to get some amount of metal rubbing off.

I routinely just tumble sized / turned cases in corn media for an hour or so after processing to remove any remaining oil or brass chips.

 

[LRPV]

I ultrasonic mine after I'm done. I've tumbled them in media before and ended up with oil/media caked up in the primer pocket and base of the case.

 

[Sniper338]

I ultra sonic clean or use qtips just like you did.

 

[rardoin]

I use lanolin as a mandrel and cutting lube (not water soluble) so i rinse with Naptha (fast drying mineral spirits).

 

[Fotheringill]

Even if no gunk, there is still crap on the inside and a minute amount of brass shavings on the outside. Tumble it and then use a neck brush (again) to get lizard stuff or corn cob out of the inside of the case.

 

[Down South]

I clean my brass/tumble in SS media for 30 minutes after neck turning, whistle clean inside and out.

 

[USMCDOC]

I clean my brass/tumble in SS media for 30 minutes after neck turning, whistle clean inside and out.

How clean is a whistle?

 

[JohnKielly]

Depends how you have been blowing it.

 

[Down South]

How clean is a whistle?

Pretty dang clean after tumbling in SS media........

 

[kybountyhunter]

I started cleaning cases with the corn cob, then went to the SS tumbler.. and as Down South said that get freaking clean! But at the beginning of this shooting season.. I stopped running my cases in any type of cleaning device.. all that I do now is clean the outside of the necks and shoulders with OO steel wool, anneal the cases, size the cases with my Warner Custom die, champer the cases and load them.. sounds crazy.. I know, I use Lapua Palma brass, have over 3000 rounds shot out of the same 300 piece's of brass.. and I've shot some of my best score's out of my FTR rifle in the 4 yrs I've been shooting FTR.

 

[bobcat93]

After expanding, turning, resizing..just anneal them..oil and sizing lube will be gone in a flash..

 

[eric n]

After expanding, turning, resizing..just anneal them..oil and sizing lube will be gone in a flash..

You don't get a tacky residue left in the neck? I tried that with imperial, didn't work so well for me.
Do you use a lube for seating?
I've been dipping the necks in denatured alcohol, then spinning some 0000 steel wool on an old brush to get the last bit of residue out of the necks. Mica the necks, load and go. They shot pretty decent. If I can burn it then lube it, sure would be easier.

Op... I did the same as you on the 1st batch I neck turned. It was a pita to get the media out at the shoulder junction. I feel your pain!

 

[Joe R]

Last week I started working on some Lapua 6.5-284 cases for my 6-284. After all work was done, (resizing, trimming, annealing, neck turning and tumbler) I used a Q-tip to remove oil and stuff from the inside neck. During the cleaning the Q-tip slipped on me and went slightly farther into the case. I pulled out an almost black Q-tip!! There was even some tumbler media on it! Long story short, after some inspecting. The crud was coming from the inside of the shoulder. I started kind of twisting the Q-tip so that it would touch the inside of the cases, (shoulder area) and was amazed at the gunk I was removing from what I thought was a "clean" case.View attachment 989928 This is but a very small amount of the Q-tips I used.

I'm with Jade. I wash mine with stainless steel pins using a FART (Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler). Once you go over to the bright side, everything else seems primitive.

I even made a video for some of the guys at my range that kept asking me about it. Here it is:

 

[/VH]

I submerge my unfired, neck turned brass in lacquer thinner, then shake them out and dry them on a clean towel. Doesn't take long on a summer day in southern NM.
On fired brass, after sizing, I wipe the Imperial lube off with a paper towel or rag saturated with lacquer thinner.
Probably not the most environment and health friendly way but I don't want to die without anything wrong with me.

 

[rardoin]

Jade....you must not be aware that SS pin tumbling will peen the necks and cause all sorts of issues with bullet release/neck tension...not to mention removing all that carbon lubricant. It is a good thing you are not into serious competition!

 

[500Stroker]

You don't get a tacky residue left in the neck? I tried that with imperial, didn't work so well for me.
Do you use a lube for seating?
I've been dipping the necks in denatured alcohol, then spinning some 0000 steel wool on an old brush to get the last bit of residue out of the necks. Mica the necks, load and go. They shot pretty decent. If I can burn it then lube it, sure would be easier.

 

[500Stroker]

Joe what is your email address? Please PM me

 

[TimP]

I use an ultrasonic cleaner with a little Simple Green after neck turning. After that its dry media. I tried the ultrasonic method on fired cases but didn't like the feel I got when seating bullets. I know you can lube the inside of the neck but why. The left over carbon does the job just fine.

 

[Down South]

Jade....you must not be aware that SS pin tumbling will peen the necks and cause all sorts of issues with bullet release/neck tension...not to mention removing all that carbon lubricant. It is a good thing you are not into serious competition!

If most guys saw my routine of tumbling brass in SS media and how much I scrub the crap outta my barrel with a bronze brush they'd think I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn at 100 yards..........